Month: December 2006

TO THESE BEAUTIFULLY SPECIAL and VERITABLE SMILING FACES IN LAKE MILLS’ KINDEST 8th GRADE HOMEROOM

First, my deepest apologies to these charming 8th grade homeroom students. Initially I understood you all to be art students (an easy enough mistake when viewing the artistry incorporated in your magnificent posters). I must confess to you that I cried when I read your heart-warming advertisements displayed beside your winning and dazzling smiles. Thank you all so much for your exceptional kindness and for wrapping sweet baby Gavin in your beautiful blanket of love. We are honored!

It was in a valiant effort to secure those elusive “young cares” for sweet baby Gavin Winslow, our little Wisconsin baby diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure, and in need of multiple kidney transplants, to survive, that kind and generous-hearted employees from the Northwestern Mutual Company raised their glasses at The University Club’s wine tasting fundraiser. Fine wines, provided by Ray’s Wine & Spirits, along with a twist of luxury, provided by The University Club’s mouth-watering, sumptuous hors d’oeuvres and spectacular sandwiches made this gift-giving evening an enjoyable affair for all. Adding to the festivities were authentically elegant, and sportfully playful silent and live auction donations.

Thank you, each of you, for your impeccable attention to making this fundraiser a wonderful success. Together you raised over $10,000 for sweet little baby Gavin.

OH WHAT A NIGHT……

Many cheerful people contributed to this fundraiser:

Jennifer Dean – University Club

Patrick T. Horne

Tammy Gawlitta…Event Coordinator

Pam Blattner…Auction Coordinator

Cheri Ryan…Volunteer

Terri Lawnicki…Volunteer

Tim Stein…University Club

Shannon Behr…University Club

Ray’s Liquor/Rick Lave…*Wine Sponsor

Rafeal Andrews…Auctioneer

Ione Dropp…Table Centerpieces

Gene Eberhardy…The Printery

Rita and Rich Zipperer

Table Sponsors:

Behr Electric…Shannon Behr

Melissa Burback

Patrick T. Horne

L’eft Bank Wines…Kim Fisher

Lemberg Electric…Tim McGrath

Mark Neumann

Northwestern Mutual Foundation

The Printery…Gene Eberhardy

True Course Medical Data Analysis & Claim Service…Glen Boyle

Don Tyler

Whyte & Hirschboeck S.C….Phil Halley

*Ray’s Liquor donated 10% of all wine sales for the evening AND continues to give a 10% discount at their store when the brochure (which was created for this special evening) is presented.

There is still time to enroll in the self-defense seminars to be held at the Krav Maga-Milwaukee studio located at 17000 W. Capitol Drive in Brookfield on Saturday, January 6, 2007.

ALL proceeds from these seminars go to Gavin’s fund. To enroll, contact Kurt at 262-412-3757. You can help save Gavin by learning how to save your own life using the special techniques taught by experts.

Defense from the Ground – Noon-2:00 p.m. – Krav Maga Milwaukee, with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu expert Jon Friedland, will introduce you to the dangers of ground fighting and how to maximize your chance of survival in this dangerous environment.

On Sunday, January 28, 2007, we will be holding a bowl-a-thon fundraiser for Gavin – “Bowlin’ for Gavin”. This will be a fun, family-friendly event and also a great way to get friends together to raise money for Gavin’s transplant-related expenses.

There will be a donation box at our â€œBowlinâ€™ for Gavinâ€ check-in table for those who wish to contribute cash or checks to Gavinâ€™s fund. All checks should be made out to COTA with â€œDonation In Honor Of Gavin Winslowâ€ in the memo of the check.

Purchase tickets for bowling, pizza and drink the day of the event at our “Bowlin’ for Gavin” check-in table at the door.

Adults: $10, Kids under ten: $5 – for three games with free shoe rental.

Bumper bowling available for the kids.

Purchase pizzas and pitchers of beer or soda and earn money for Gavin.

Silent auction items for bid from various vendors.

No limit to the number of games you can bowl.

Many thanks to Classic Lanes owner Gina Daroszewski for her generosity and to Jill Albrecht for her assistance in obtaining the venue for this event. And another big thank you to Samantha Christianasen for helping with the auction items.

If you plan on attending Gavin’s bowlathon on Sunday, January 28, 2007, please fill out this registration form by Friday, January 26, 2007. The bowling alley owners need to know how many lanes to reserve, so we need to give them as accurate a head count as possible. Thanks in advance for your help.

We would like to thank you, each of you, for coloring sweet baby Gavin’s world brighter. Thank you for deciding to do a “penny push fundraiser” at your Middle School from January 8th through the 17th in his honor. Thank you also for working so hard at creating posters to advertise your fundraiser.

Magdalena Abakanowicz, a famous Polish artist whose art always tries to address issues of dignity and courage said, “Art does not solve problems but makes us aware of their existence. It opens our eyes to see and our brain to imagine.” Thank you so much for looking deep into your hearts and seeing little baby Gavin, and thank you for helping us all imagine his dream of living. For your inspirational creativity, we are ever grateful!

It probably comes as no surprise that spaghetti is known as The “world-wide comfort food.” Certainly, it was that and much more to sweet baby Gavin after the Lake Mills Knights of Columbus sponsored their mouth-watering spaghetti dinner in his honor. This traditional Italian fare added $1000 to little Gavin’s fundraising campaign.

The Knights of Columbus have also donated an additional $2000 to baby Gavin’s campaign fund. This generous donation was possible because of monies raised from their 2006 Raffle.

Coincidentally, everyone can support this Wisconsin State Council Knights of Columbus Charity Raffle right now. Tickets are $5.00 – Drawing is April 28, 2007. This is what you could win:

1st place – $50,000

2nd place – $25,000

3rd place – 2007 Harley Street Rod or $15,000

4th place – 2007 Harley Sportster Roadster or $10,000

5th place – $5,000

6th – 25th – $1,000 each

26th-46th – $500 each

If anyone would like to purchase a ticket or get more information, please contact Jay Winslow at: winslowjl18@yahoo.com

We wish to offer our heart-felt gratitude to the Lake Mill’s Knights of Columbus for their kind support and thank them for their friendship. They remain a wonderful source of comfort.